Directory_and_Chronicle_1864 — Page 390

LXXII

PROHIBITION OF THE COOLIE TRADE IN AMERICAN VESSELS.

In com-

two, with an interval between the floor and the deck or platform of at least six inch- es, and each berth to be "at least six feet length, and at least eighteen inches in width for each passenger." Due regard must be had to the foregoing provisions of law in estimating the number of passengers the vessel is entitled to carry. puting the number of passengers "all children under the age of one year, at the time of embarkation," are excluded from such computation, csnsequently all children over- one year are in contemplation of law to be deemed and treated as separate passengers.

The language of the act regulating the apparatus for ventilation, cooking, &c., and prescribing the allowance of water and provisions to be provided by each vessel according to her legal passenger capacity, is oonceived to be so precise and explicit as to call for no elucidation on these points by the Department, at this time.

The requirements of the 5th section of the act regulating the duties of the Cap- tain, the cleansing of the vessel, &c. must be rigidly observed and enforced.

In pursnance of the 17th soction, the Collector will apdoint end direct one of the Inspectors of the Customs at his port, or examine and report upon the subjects therein indicated. In the selection of this officer, care must be taken to devolve the duty upon one fully competent for its faithful discharge.

It will be seen that the regulations and restrictions imposed by this act do not apply to cabin passengers in the case of vessel transportiong such passengers between the United States and Europe.

It will be perceived that the 9th section prescribes the time when the act takes effect in respect to vessels sailing from Port in the United States, and also in respect to vessels sailing from Ports in Europe, and in the former case thirty drys, and ie the latter sixty days from the time of its approval, to with the 17th May, 1848.

[PUBLIC ACT-No. 24.]

An Act to prohibit the "coolie trade" by American citizens in American vessels.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That no citizen or citizens of the United States, or for- cigner coming into or residing within the same, shall, for himself or for any other person whatsoever, either as master, factor, owner, or otherwise, build, equip, load, or otherwise prepare any ship or vessel, or any steamshisp or steam vessel, registered, en- rolled, or licensed, in the United States, or in any port within the same, for the pur- pose of procuring from China, or from any port or place therein, or from any other port or place the inhabitants or subject of China, known as "coolies," to be transport- ed to any foreign country, port, or place whatever, to be disposed of, or sold, or transferred, for any term of years or of any time whatever, as servants or apprentices, or to be held to service or labor. And if any ship or vessel, steamship or steam-vessel, belonging in whole or in part to citizens of the United States, and registered, enrolled, or otherwise licensed as aforesaid, shall be employed for the said purposes, or in the "coolie trade," so called, or shall be caused to procure or carry from China or else- where, as aforesaid, any subjects of the Government of China for the purpose of transporting or disposing of them as aforesaid, every ship or vessel, steamship or steam-vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, and other appurtenances, shall be forfeit- ed to the United States, and shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted, and condemned in any

of the circuit courts or district courts of the United States, for the district where the said ship or vessel, steamship or steam-vessel, may be found, seized, or carried.

Sec. 2.-And be it further enacted, that every person who shall so build, fit out, equip, load, or otherwise prepare, or who shall send to sea, or navigate, as owner,

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